With his obvious character flaws, Stephen Harper is often compared to Richard Nixon. Both men display a rules-bending, take-no-prisoners and win-at-any-cost approach to achieve political ambitions; both display overt petulance, and obvious disdain for the media — while simultaneously trying to manipulate same for political gain.
Nixon is remembered for a dramatic fall from grace with his resignation over the Watergate coverup, but a hugely positive part of his legacy is sometimes overlooked. At the height of the Communist Cold War he had the forethought to realize that there would not always be a closed society behind Chairman Mao’s Bamboo Curtain.
His ground-breaking trade mission to China in February, 1972 laid the foundation for where China presently stands with the rest of the world.
Today the bane of the Western world’s existence seems to be Iran, but no U.S. president would dare to make a similar overture to the Persian Gulf state as Nixon did 40 years ago to China.
The American media moguls are all so pro-Israel, as is their financial/banking sector, and most importantly their campaign contributors.
However, Mr. Harper is dissatisfied with Canada’s traditional Middle-Power role. Has he the forethought to ignore the pro-Israelites in his caucus, and make such a historical trade mission to Iran?
Tehran’s present theocracy cannot, and will not, last forever. By taking a page from Nixon’s book, such a tenacious move could change the course of world history once again.
Bernie Smith
Parksville